The Executive Director of Nigerian Communications Commission, Professor Umar Danbatta, has explained that the wide range of technological advances, convergence of technologies and services are the reason for the review of licences issued to telecommunications companies in the country.
While inaugurating an in-house standing committee to carry out the task, Danbatta said, “The current licence structure is almost 20 years old.”
He explained that the impact of technologies and services, which characterised the global telecoms space over the years, was increasingly being experienced in Nigeria.
He reiterated the need for urgent review of the existing licence pattern to reflect new licensing trends in line with international standards, while providing opportunities for improved revenue for government.
“Therefore, it is evident that this standing committee, drawn from competent hands in various departments of the commission, is suited and capable of addressing the enormous task of reviewing the existing licence structure of telecom licensees in Nigeria,” he said.
Danbatta said effective delivery of the committee’s task would help the commission to institute a process, which will culminate in the review of the terms and conditions of the various licence categories.
These, he said, will include licensing fee, as well as identification of the limitations of the various licence categories, with a view to clearly determining licences that should be phased out or amended.
The Director, Licensing and Authorisation, NCC and Chairman of the Committee, Mohammed Babajika, assured of the committee’s resolve to deliver on the terms of their assignment.
